Must have GIZMOS

Driving Bib

The ultimate driving accessory: The Drib.

If you're one of those busy people who frequently grab a quick meal or snack in the parking lot or at your desk, you know how annoying drips and spills can be. Protect your appearance (and your car's) with The Drib. This foldable, washable, shoulder-to-knee bib was designed to be worn in the car.

An absorbent fabric front and moisture-resistant back keep spills in check and large pockets on the bottom catch food spills. Shoulder weights allow for easy use without the need for awkward ties and clips. Folds into its own pocket for compact storage.

Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive...Flauxcopaciter is not needed

Is it a car? Is it a plane? Actually it’s both. The first flying automobile, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month.

If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater road car to a plane in 15 seconds, is expected to land in showrooms in about 18 months’ time.

Its manufacturer says it is easy to keep and run since it uses normal unleaded fuel and will fit into a garage.

Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of petrol at a cruising speed of 115mph. Up to now, however, it has been tested only on roads at up to 90mph.

Dietrich said he had already received 40 orders, despite an expected retail price of $200,000 (£132,000). link to story. via

The SBU is an electric self-balancing unicycle.  It controls the forward and backward balance while the rider balances left and right.  It's a unique blend of machine and human balancing. The rider controls the speed by leaning forward or backward to speed up or stop.  There is no need to pedal, in fact there are no crank arms, just foot rests. The SBU keeps upright by utilizing advanced electronics including accelerometers and gyroscopes with sophisticated balancing algorithms. 

 

A limited release of ten SBUs is slated for early November '08.  For this initial production cycle, the cost will be $1500 each.  The first ten buyers will be selected based on first contact date and a brief phone interview. 

focusdesigns.com for availability.

This is One gadget I would Love to Review: Rocket Man

Rinspeed to debut submersible sQuba at the March 4th Geneva auto show

Rinspeed, a boutique automotive design company, plans on blowing away the upcoming Geneva auto show with its sQuba concept, a car that swims underwater, drives autonomously on land, and is emission-free. The car, based on a Lotus Elise, uses an electric motor to drive the wheels on land, plus two other motors to drive propellers underwater.

Thirty years after the movie thriller ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ hit the silver screen “sQuba” is the first car that can actually ‘fly’ under water.

“Dive it again, James!”  If the situation gets too hot for the secret agent he’ll go underground - or under water. So demonstrated impressively by Roger Moore in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977 when he dove below the waves in a sleek vehicle that moments before seemed to be an ordinary car. The only problem: The scene never really took place; it was an animation.

With the “sQuba,” the world’s first real submersible car, the movie fake now becomes reality for visitors of the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008). Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (52) is known for his extraordinary automotive creations. The acknowledged James Bond enthusiast and Swiss automobile visionary kept revisiting this scene in his mind over and over: “For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream come true.”

And it is this submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters that sets the “sQuba” apart from military vehicles. While the latter can go under water, they are limited to driving slowly over the submerged ground. Rinderknecht: “It is undoubtedly not an easy task to make a car watertight and pressure resistant enough to be maneuverable under water. The real challenge however was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water.”

75 Mph = Land Top Speed

04 Mph = On Water Top Speed

02 Mph = Under Water Top Speed (10 meters)

Yes, the occupants will get wet, but an integrated scuba tank means they can breathe. Rinspeed points out that the interior materials won't be harmed by contact with salt water, although your tuxedo probably won't fare so well.   Source

Parrot Bluetooth Headset With Radio For Motorcycles

Parrot a well known name in wireless technology have released a Bluetooth enabled headset for motorcycles. Known under the name Parrot SK 4000, the Bluetooth headset is meant for single use (i.e. no intercom), connecting to a Bluetooth equipped mobile phone. They also offer a FM RDSRadio Data System, or RDS, is a standard from the European Broadcasting Union for sending small amounts of digital information using conventional FM radio broadcasts. The RDS system standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, track/artist info and station identification. RDS has been standard in Europe and Latin America since the early 1990s, but less so in North America. stereo radio within the unit.

The radio can be managed using a remote controller that can be fixed to your handlebar. The remote controller communicates with the helmet unit using wireless RF.

The Parrot interface allows for the use of voice dialing. The Parrot has a voice recognizing software that will dial the number of the person whose name you pronounce. No voice training is required.

You can "walk" through your dialing directory using the remote control, the Parrot will "read" out the names to you. The same applies to the FM radio, the Parrot will tell you which station you're listening to (if the station is RDS enabled).

The battery will last 10 hours while blasting away music, so enough for any long trip. In standby, the battery will last 600 hours. It takes 3 hours to fully charge the unit.

The helmet unit adds 102 grams to the weight of your helmet. The unit has been tested with the Garmin Zumo GPS (so you can receive navigation instructions), but not with the TomTom Rider (yet-this will be done shortly).  Available in the USA starting March 2008 for around $292.  Press Release via

VIDEO: Fully Customizable In-Car PC is Powered by Windows

If you (or friends) need to use a PC while driving, the "In-Car PC" should do the trick. This system features "integrated media libraries, multiple screens and web access from any seat."  This concept isn't new if you watch "Pimp my Ride", but the in-Car PC makes it more attainable.

Each system’s fully customisable, with the option for satnav, hands-free phone, DVD, web access and music libraries built in. The system can run with up to four separate screens, and there’s even the option to fit a scanner and printer in the boot!

T3 takes a trip with the In-Car PC.

Cooler Scooter Chills Drinks at 14 mph

Why not arrive at your next tailgate party in style? This ride-on cooler not only speeds you along to your destination, it’ll keep your drinks and snacks nice and chilled on the way.

This rechargeable electric scooter holds up to 24 cans of your favorite beverages, along with 8 pounds of ice right under your bum. There’s even a cup holder right between your legs so you can have a can of the cold stuff for yourself. If sitting on a cooler doesn’t sound very comfortable to you, there’s an optional padded seat that bolts on for about $30 as shown.

The three-wheeled vehicle can hold up to 300lbs and propel you down the road at up to 14 miles per hour. You’ll be able to drive about 15 miles on a single charge. While I’m not certain if this thing is street-legal, it’s probably fine for tooling around the parking lot at the stadium, delivering cold brews to your buddies.

It might be a little pricey at $530 with padded seat but I think you would be worth it you tailgate as much as I do, Just watch out for the DUI. Product page

1979 “Atari Package” Buick Riviera

Kevin Upgraded his 1978 Buick Riviera Old School Style with an 8 track, 13" TV, and Atari for his entertainment.

Found on the CarDomain site

My Next Bike: Victory Vision is the First iPod Motorcycle

My next Motorcycle: Victory Vision 2008

Not only is this a sweet looking bike but it comes ready with iPod connectivity - with music navigation controls smartly placed on the handle bars while tracks can be viewed on the dashboard. The premium version also has a 4 speaker system, and you can have XM radio thrown in as well. I’ll take one in grey please.